Booth looked at Xander. "I need you to turn around."
Xander looked at the FBI agent. "This is all a misunderstanding."
Booth put his hand on Xander's shoulder and spun him around and grabbed his hands putting them together and taking out his hand cuffs. "Wow this is all a misunderstanding? That is right up there with That's not mine officer."
Buffy looked at him and was a little angry Xander was being handled the way he was. "Hey don't touch him like that."
Booth slapped the cuffs on him. "I'm taking you in for questioning."
Buffy stepped defiantly in front of him. "Oh like hell you are."
Booth looked at Buffy as she crossed her arms. "You can step out of the way or I can make this a two for one."
Xander shook his head. "Buffy it's okay." He turned looking at Agent Booth. "Just give me 10 seconds please. If you do that I will go with you willingly you don't even need the handcuffs."
Booth un cuffed him and looked at him. "10 seconds."
Xander slid his hands in his pockets trying to be subtle. He grabbed the hopper and pulled Buffy in to a hug. He whispered in her ear. "You have to take this Buffy."
Buffy could feel it pressed between them and quickly grabbed it ready to slide it in her pocket. She whispered back "I promise I'm going to get you out.."
Booth saw Xander try to pass something to Buffy he was too good of an agent not too. "Wow that was really good." Booth pulled Xander back and pulled at Buffy's hands. "What could be so important." Buffy wanted to pull back but there were to many cops around. She really didn't want to get in to a tug of war match with something as delicate at the hopper.
Buffy looked at him indignant. "That belongs to me. He was giving it to me cause we know how you policeman are. You walk in to the police station with a wallet filled with cash and when you leave all that cash is strangely missing. Not going to give you guys a chance to steal my iPod."
Booth knew people well enough to know she was lying. He looked at her skeptically for a second evaluating her body language. "Congratulations I think we are making this a two for one." He looked at the other two cops. "She's coming with us." Buffy just glared at him not saying a word. She was used to looking at Angel and not sure if she could trust the face. Angelus had done that to her. Well this was just one more face to had to his repertoire that she couldn't trust. He pointed to Xander. "I want him in the back of my car."
Buffy just clenched her fists in anger. If looks could kill Booth would have been dead. She shook her head as two policeman slapped the cuffs on her. "Asshole."
Booth turned around. "What was that?"
Xander just smirked a little at her trying to reassure her. It was those simple smiles that help to steady her. She wanted to rip in to Booth and show him what a slayer was but the simple smirk was like there own little language. The smirk said keep it cool Buffy. It said we will figure this out and we will be okay. Buffy looked at Booth. "I didn't say anything."
With that Buffy was put in the back of a sedan and Xander in the back of another. Before leaving Agent Booth went to the woman wearing the blue containment suit.
"Bonesy what do you know?"
Temperance Brennan was the leading forensic anthropologist in her field. Where most would look at some broken bones and fractured skull and see a murder she saw a puzzle. That puzzle could tell them so much. Not only about the victim but sometimes it gave up clues to the murderer. To say she was good at her job was a bit of an understatement. Her job had given her fulfillment in more ways than she would ever imagine. Financially the compensation she received from the Jeffersonian was far from chicken scratch. The real money came from her work as an author. If her work in forensics hadn't made her famous her novels did. Dr Brennan had found the intellectual fulfillment she was looking for in her job, the financial compensation but with Agent Booth she found something else.
They had been working together for years and it took them forever to admit how they felt about each other. Today they were husband and wife the ultimate duo in every way. Bones was the nickname Booth came up with. At first it agitated her but much like the old school FBI agent it grew on her. She turned looking over her shoulder at her husband.
"Agent Booth all off this will need to be gathered and taken back to the Jeffersonian."
Booth quickly raised his wrist watching looking at the time. "Damn it."
"What?"
"I had an hour 45 minutes it would take you to say that."
Doctor Jack Hodgins who was working with in listening range smiled and looked at the two of them. "I believe I had an hour 30 to an hour 40." He just continued picking up and scraping particulates and bugs as he he smiled.
Booth rolled his eyes. "So what can you tell me."
She stood back from the scene looking over the unearthed body. "I would put time of death some where between 10 to 12 days."
"Cause of death?"
"Too soon to do so would be wild and reckless."
"You know I've been doing this for years. You'd think by now I would know the song and dance."
"What was with that woman hugging you?"
"You know it's strange. She thought she knew me. She just threw herself at me."
"That seems highly inappropriate."
He couldn't help but smile. "Do I sense a twinge of jealousy. Don't worry honey I only have eyes for you."
"Jealousy is an emotional reaction that people with insecurities have when they feel inadequate next to someone their superior. That woman was in no way my superior."
"I wouldn't trade 100 of her for 1 of you." He put his hands on the hips looking at Xander in the back of the squad car. "I have a feeling this case is going to be fairly open and shut."
"I'd be careful about jumping to conclusions."
"It's not much of a jump when you find the suspect in the woods a few feet from the body he dumped. Than we find his identification on the body of the victim. In the FBI we have a term for that. It's called Open and Shut."
"Well we have learned everything we can standing around out here."
"I'll see you at home. Keep me posted if you find out anything"
As the black FBI Sedan pulled away from scene Buffy found a certain amount of irony that once again she was in a new world and once again she was riding in the back of a police car. The difference this time was they weren't going to a police station. The final destination that day would be FBI Headquarters. Buffy and Xander were lead inside seperately. They were given orange jumpsuits and lead in to single holding cells. They took everything she had. They took her money and keys, wallet and watch. All of that she didn't care about. It was the hopper that worried her. Agent Booth with his grabby hands yanked it out of her hands and with out it Xander and her would be stuck in that world forever. As they locked her in the cell she found it much more accommodating than most standard jail. It was clean and sterile. There was a single bed that was attached to the wall with pillow and blankets. Buffy knew that worrying wouldn't do any good. It never did. She laid on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
She wondered what was going on back home. How much time had passed. It seemed like they were just finding their place again. After Sunnydale got sucked in to the hell mouth it felt like they would never find a home again. The first 5 years they lived on the road practically. Between Giles contacts and the slayers a new council was formed. Anyone who survived the hell mouth had a hand in forming it. Once Xander felt they were established he told Giles he would be leaving. He said he would always be there for them if they needed him but he had spent over half his life in darkness. He wanted something normal.
The biggest surprise was he wasn't the only one. Xander speaking out gave others the courage. Dawn had left for college and was on her way to becoming a pediatrician. Willow helped Faith to scrub her record. Faith and several of the other girls enrolled in the police academy and were finding a way to keep the streets safe during the day. A vampire fighting police force kept the streets equally safe at night. it came as quite a shock though when Buffy told everyone she had enough. Like Xander she would be there in a pinch if needed but she wanted to find out who she was with out the vampire slayer.
Willow had stayed with Giles forming a new school for the remaining girls. Buffy couldn't face the prospect of being alone. After all that's what the slayer prophecy had been about for so long. Xander seemed to be the best fit so when he left she went with him. Right about now she was really starting to miss the little 2 bedroom apartment they started to call home.
Xander was in the other cell sleeping peacefully. Buffy would have probably called him nuts that in the midst of being a murder suspect he could sleep so peacefully but over the years he had learned to sleep anywhere if the situation called for it. Just before 9 AM the cell door opened and Agent Sealy Booth entered the cell behind a guard carrying some breakfast.
Booth flashed Xander a sarcastic smile. "Good morning sunshine."
Xander sat up looking past him seeing the tray of breakfast. "Is that for me?"
The guard sat it on the sink and left the room. Booth picked it up and examined it. "This is a to go meal."
"You are letting me go?"
"No. I have some questions for you." He pushed the tray in to Xander's chest. "Take it and follow me."
"Would it kill you to say please?"
"You know it just might."
Booth signaled the guard to open the door. Xander walked out first with Booth behind him. Xander followed him in to the interview room. The mirror in the room was clearly double sided and the microphone on the table clearly picked up all the audio. Xander set his tray down on the table and pulled out the chair. Xander started on the scrambled eggs. He sat down and took a bite and held it in his mouth for a second. They were most likely powdered eggs. They were cold and flavorless. Booth could see the look clearly on his face.
"Not exactly the Ritz Carlton."
Xander slowly swallowed the bite. "At this point I'd settle for Ritz cracker."
Booth sat across from him as Xander continued eating. "So tell me the story. Tell me what that guy did that was so bad that you buried him in the woods."
Xander reluctantly took another bite. "I didn't kill anyone."
Booth reached in to his pocket. Inside was the identification from the night before. It was held in a plastic bag as to avoid evidence contamination. He threw it in front of Xander. "Can you tell me how that was found on the victim then."
Xander swallowed another bite and picked up the bag looking at it closely. "I know that looks like me but."
"But what?"
Xander shook his head. "That's not me. First off that guy has both his eyes and in case you haven't noticed I have one." He pointed to his eye patch.
"Picture could have been taken well before you lost your eye. Maybe the eye in the photo is a glass eye. Maybe you just wear that eye patch as a disguise."
Xander dropped the fork on the plate and looked at Booth. "You want a look underneath the patch so I can show you how fake it is."
"If that isn't you, than you tell me who it is."
"I DON"T KNOW?"
"What were you doing in the woods?"
"We weren't in the woods. Not at first. We just were close and Buffy heard something and saw you and she thought you were someone else so she chased after you and I chased after her and that just happened to be in the middle of your crime scene."
Booth laughed and scratched his chin. "Okay so let me paint out your picture. The guy in the hole isn't you. He looks exactly like you. You happen to just be passing through the exact location where a body is found. A body with your id on it."
"That's not mine."
"Let me ask you Cooper if you came at me with a story like that would you believe it?"
"Who the hell is Cooper?"
Booth pointed to the identification. The name was Cooper Hoffman. "Stop treating me like I'm an idiot."
"My name is Xander Harris I don't know who the hell Cooper is."
"Well your partially telling the truth. We cross referenced Cooper Hoffman and found it's an alias."
"What?" Booth threw out several different print outs of licences all with the same photo and face.
"Out of California we have a Kevin Lynch, Lee McHenry in Seattle, Gil Gilbert, Jake Relm, and the list goes on and on and on."
Xander picked them up looking confused. "What is this?"
"You are a con man. You screw people out of money than leave town before anyone can track you down. Problem is though this time you didn't get away. One of your victims found you. He confronted you. Did he ask for his money back?"
Xander put his hands up thinking. "Give me a second. This doesn't make sense." The room was spinning on edge a bit.
"He asked for his money back and he was going to rat you out You could have given him the money but than you have a loose end. He could still turn you in and lets face it you just wanted to keep the money so killing him is so much easier."
"No."
"I have most of it figured out except for the girl. We ran her prints and haven't gotten anything back yet but we will. What is she to you? She your partner in crime?"
"She's Buffy she had nothing to do with this?"
"So you want to keep her out of this That is good. For once you are doing something right. Let me help you to protect her."
"I don't know what you want?"
Booth slammed his fist down angry. "I want the truth."
"I don't know the truth. I don't know what is going on."
"If I were you I'd figure it out real quick."
Xander closed his eyes and tried to figure things out. "Agent Booth I honestly don't know everything that is going on here."
"Than tell me what you do know. Tell me the truth."
Xander laughed. "You don't want the truth. You wouldn't believe it anyways. Hell I am here and I don't believe it."
Booth stood up headed to the door. "You want me to believe you didn't do this but you aren't offering me any proof." With that he opened the door and started to step out.
Xander's mind raced. "I can take a lie detector test."
Booth turned around with a smile on his face. "Really?"
"I didn't do this and I can show you. You are in the FBI you have to have access to a lie detector right."
Booth just turned around. "I will set it up."
Down the hall Buffy was sitting in a similar room. When Booth entered the room her gut reaction was to treat him like Angel. She had to remember that no matter what he looked like this was not Angel. "What do you want?"
Booth sat down across from Buffy this time. "I want answers. First off we ran your finger prints and the name you gave us."
"Let me guess. You didn't find anything."
"You knew that. Which means you knew the info you gave us were bogus. Now I just left the other room after talking to your boyfriend"
"He's not my boyfriend."
"Brother? Business partner? What is he to you?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. How to describe what Xander was. He was her brother and her friend and what ever else she needed Xander to be. "He my…" She let go of a breath. "He's my Xander."
"Again I am wondering how you are connected"
"Right now he's my roommate. He's my best friend and he's the one guy I know I can count on."
"Well right now that guy you can count on is in the other room spilling his guts blaming all of this on you."
Buffy knew he was lying. She threw him a sarcastic smile. "Really? Oh God I should just tell you everything right now than cause obviously I need to save myself."
Booth sat across from her an angry snarl painted on his face. "Where did you meet Xander?"
"I met him in high school."
"Where did you go to High School."
"Sunnydale High. You want to see my yearbook?"
Booth smiled having a plan. "Any Sunnydale high what city is that in?"
Buffy looked at him like he was an idiot. "Sunnydale California obviously."
"A HA I gotcha."
"What do you mean you got me?"
Booth flopped an atlas down in front of her. "There is no Sunnydale California."
"Well not anymore obviously. I mean the whole thing got sucked in to the earth and now it's just a giant pit."
"Enough talk." Booth flipped open to a map of California. "Now I have a Sunnyvale California but no Sunnydale."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh now you are just being crazy." She grabbed the book from his hands and looked at where Sunnydale should be in it's place was a entirely different city. "This is a joke right. You printed this up to mess with me."
"There is no Sunnydale now I don't know what your game is but you need to level with me."
"I do live in Sunnydale I swear."
"Let me guess it's right next to Springfield or Quahog. Maybe we should call the people from Gotham and see if they know where Sunnydale is."
"Sarcasm looks good on a lot of people you aren't one of them." Buffy looked at her nails. "I want my stuff back."
"Your stuff?"
"Mainly the iPod looking thing."
"You have a lot more to worry about right now than music."
"Be that as it is. I want it back."
He was about to respond when his phone rang out. The caller ID showed it was his wife. He needed to talk to her. "I'll be back. You should get smart real quick." Booth stepped in the hallway pushing the button. "Tell me you have something good?"
Brennan stood over the bones looking at them as she talked to her husband. "We were able to reconstruct and determine the identity of the victim from the woods."
"You got a name."
"The most recent name we were able to link him to is Cooper Hoffman."
"That can't be right. Cooper Hoffman is the guy what we have in custody."
"It is right. We checked his fingerprints and he is your guy."
"We checked the fingerprints of the guy we have in custody and they match as Cooper Hoffman."
"That isn't possible."
"Than you tell me what we are looking at here?"
"I really don't know."
"You don't know? Don't give me I don't know. You are my answer girl. You give me different theories and possibilities. You never say I don't know."
"2 people having the exact same finger prints is a genetic impossibility. I am not sure how this could have been done."
"Do we know how the guy died. Your murderer is most likely left handed."
"Strangulation."
Booth sighed "I'll see you shortly. If you find out anything else call me." With that he hung up the phone.
As Brennan hung up the phone Hodgins came in carrying a vile. "So I have identified the insect larva as aphids. These are the kind that have grown popular in the last few years with the organic gardeners."
She took the vile of bugs and held them up to the light to better examine them. "Are they common in the forrest?"
"Not the forrest we were in."
She shook her head swiping key card to enter the lab. "I just got off the phone with Booth and he told me that the man they have in custody has the same fingerprints as the victim in the lab. "
Hodgins shook his head laughing. "It has to be shorty lab work. I mean that isn't possible."
"In what scenario could a man have the exact same fingerprints as someone else?"
"None as far as I know. I mean twins have the same DNA but different finger prints."
"Yes and even if you were to hypothetically clone someone the fingerprints are going to be different. "
"So how than?"
"Either the FBI made a mistake or."
"Or?"
"I don't know the or. I mean." She looked stumped and unsure.
Hodgins smiled his usual crazy smile when he was about to spew a conspiracy theory. "Didn't Booth get grabbed by some woman who mistook him for someone else."
"Yes it was a simple case of mistaken identity. The woman later admitted she thought Booth was someone he wasn't."
"And now we have a victim in the lab who looks just like the man the FBI has in custody."
"Down to the fingerprints."
"Well they say everyone has a look a like in the world."
"That theory is completely unfounded."
"Well when you eliminate all possible theories all that remains how ever improbable ."
Brennan just stood over the bones looking down at them. "What in the hell is going on here."
It was just after 2pm when Booth had Xander brought out of his cell. This time he was taken in to what looked more like a back office. A man in a lab coat was standing next to Booth. Xander looked at him. "What is it you want this time?"
"You offered to take a lie detector test."
"Fine. What ever. Lets just get this over with." The lab tech motioned for Xander to sit and started hooking wires form the machine up to him.
Booth stood in the corner waiting for the lab tech to do his work. "So you didn't seem to like the breakfast we serve here."
"I assumed that was the food you picked for me cause you didn't like me."
"Of course not. I don't need food to show you that I really don't like you."
Xander smirked thinking in this universe or any other he couldn't get along with Angel. "It is nice to see some things never change."
"What does that mean?'"
"Forget it."
The lab door behind them opened and a shorter man in a suit came through. He looked a lot younger than Agent Booth and even Xander himself. Booth looked at Xander. "This is Doctor Lance Sweets. I invited him to sit in I hope you don't mind. Sweets this is." He looked at him. "Well he says his name is Xander."
Xander shook it off and looked at Booth. "He's a doctor really? When did he start med school? When he was 5"
Sweets gritted his teeth. "I can assure you that I am more than competent."
Booth slinked next to him muttering. "Does kind of make a point though. You ever consider maybe a goatee or a beard. Something to not make you look so."
Sweets smiled and looked to Booth. "Let's just stay on task."
The lab tech looked at them. "He's ready to go when you want to ask your questions."
Booth sat down in the chair locking eyes with Xander. "What connection do you have with that body we found in the forrest."
"I've never seen that body before last night."
"Have you ever used the Alias Cooper Hoffman."
"No."
Booth sighed looking at the lab tech so far all of the answers he gave were straight forward. He had more questions on the chart but felt he needed to throw him a curve ball. He needed to ask something not about the scene. "What is the name of the School, City and State you graduated from."
"Sunnydale High in Sunnydale California."
Booth jumped up "Ah -HA That has to be a lie. There is no Sunnydale California."
The lab tech looked at him. "It's not registering as a lie."
Sweets looked at Xander trying to reclaim some peace. "Tell us about the girl. What connection does she have to the body found in the woods."
Xander turned his attention to Sweets. "She doesn't know him either. The first time either of us saw that body was shortly after Agent Booth did."
Booth looked to the lab tech hoping for something. The lab tech confirmed "He's telling the truth."
Booth stood up frustrated. "Sweets can I see you outside?"
Lance got up and walked out to the hallway. As he did so Booth followed. Booth leaned against the wall. "How did he do that?"
"Maybe he is telling the truth?"
"Come on Sweets people have beaten the lie detector before."
"Psychopaths maybe but this guy doesn't register any of those psychopathic tendencies."
"Come on maybe he's conning all of us."
Sweets put his hands up in surrender. "You are the senior agent here. I have seen you say that more than the facts some times you just have to go with your gut. Sometimes you need to read the situation. Do you feel like this guy is good for this murder."
"What I think is." He sighed. "I think he's a jerk. I think I don't like him. My gut tell me that he didn't do this."
"Maybe you should step back from the situation. I mean you said you don't like him. Maybe that judgement is clouding your ability to see things clearly."
"Hey I am a fountain of open mindedness. I have lots of people I don't like that I don't frame."
"Okay just remember that old saying. You get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar."
Booth scrunched his nose. "I always hated that saying. Why does anyone want flies."
"If you need me to I can work up a full psychological profile on him."
Booth turned around and headed back in the room. "Hold off on that I'll let you know if I need you again."
Xander stood up. "So back to the cell?"
Booth crossed his arms. "You are still holding something back?"
"Of course I am. We all have things we hold back. You going to tell me you don't have a secret or two. I can tell you honestly that none of my secrets are related to your investigation."
Booth sighed pointed to the door. "Back to the cell."
Xander walked the hallways back to his cell as Booth stood behind. "How long are you going to hold us?"
He diverted the question changing the subject. "So I talked to your friend Buffy today."
Xander kept his eyes forward but tried to hide his emotion. "You should stay away from Buffy."
"So this guy that she mistook me for. What his name Arnold?"
"Actually his name is Angel."
Booth stopped in his tracks putting his hand on Xander's shoulder stopping him. "Wait. The guys name is Angel. Like as in God's messenger or what ever."
"That is his name."
"Kind of feminine for a man."
For once they had common ground Xander stood there a little guffawed. "That's what I always said."
"So she thought I was this Angel guy?"
Xander turned around and started walking again. "You do look just like him. A little older and softer around the middle but all in all you are him."
"So I take it that she and him were more than roommates."
Xander just kept walking glad Booth couldn't see his face. "Not really your business."
"We have a technical term in the FBI for what that was. It's called jealousy."
"Again what goes on between Buffy and I is not your business so I won't be speaking to you about any of it. There is one thing I do want to ask."
"What?"
"I didn't have to do the test today. I did that as a sign of goodwill. So I think you owe me a favor."
"I don't owe you a favor but lets hear it."
"The thing you took from me. Was wondering if I could have the iPod back. It's not a weapon. Not really a good reason to keep it from me." Xander stopped at the cell door waiting for the guard to unlock it. As the electronic clunk was heard and the door slid open Xander stepped inside.
"That thing is pretty important isn't it?"
"Well it is just you know I figured some music would be nice."
"You don't try to hide something from the FBI for just some music. Buffy asked me about it too."
"It belongs to us. Please return it."
As the door locked shut Booth turned around going to the evidence lock up. He grabbed everything that got turned in from them. He laid it all out on his desk. He opened Buffy's wallet to find pictures. Sure enough there was a picture of her Xander and some redhead standing in front of a school. In big letters it read Sunnydale High. An old tattered photo was what really held his interest. Looking back at him had to be the one they called Angel. Xander wasn't lying. He looked just like him. Booth rubbed his eyes and muttered "What the hell is going on here."
A quick knock at the door had him looking up as the door opened and Brennan stepped in. "Am I interrupting?"
Booth shook his head. "Just trying to figure out this twilight zone of a case."
"Would fresh eyes help?"
Brennan came behind him and looked at the photos laid out on the desk. The one of Angel caught her attention. She picked it up. "Why do they have a picture of you?"
"That's what I'm up against. That's not me. The guy in the hole in the forrest isn't the guy in the cell and Sunnydale isn't a real place?"
Brennan put the photo down and sat across from him. "Well if it helps at all I double checked the finger prints and you guys missed a minor detail?"
"What detail?"
She pulled out two sets of finger prints putting them in front of him. "The one on the right belongs to Cooper Hoffman. They are identical in every way to the man in the cell." She pointed to the left set of prints. "Except for some scarring. Cooper Hoffman has a scar on his finger on the right index. If you look to the left same finger you will find no scar. Other than that the finger prints are the exact same in every way."
"I thought that was impossible."
"It is."
Booth picked up the hopper and took it out of the plastic bag. "Does this look like anything to you?"
Brennan picked it up and looked it over. "Not of any technology I recognize."
"They seemed to make a big deal about this."
"Did you get any more information from the body?"
"Aphids were found on the body. That species of insect is used more for 's favored by those who don't want to use pesticides. They aren't commonly found in the woods."
"So we might be looking for an organic farmer?"
"The guy we have locked up passed the lie detector. I thought he might have been just that good of a liar but Sweets says only psychopaths are capable of cheating the tests and he isn't a psychopath."
"For what it is worth I don't believe he killed Cooper Hoffman. The killer was of much shorter stature."
"How short?"
"We estimated in the lab that the killer was some where between 5 foot 3 and 5 foot 5"
Booth quickly scampered for the information he had on Buffy. "She is 5 foot 4."
"Dark hairs were found in the victims hand. They were most likely pulled out while fighting off the attack."
"Well she is a blonde but it's not like people can't die there hair."
"If you can get me a DNA sample I could compare it to the hair."
"That might be our next step. The problem is the lie detector test."
She interrupted. "You asked him if she did it and he passed because he thinks she didn't. It doesn't make him a liar it just makes him ill informed."
"I guess I could ask her for a DNA sample. With out a warrant and probable cause."
"You'll find a way. You always do."
Booth stood up and crossed the desk hugging his wife. "Sweets thinks I play bad cop too much."
"Sweets said you are a bad cop. Not only is that inaccurate it's just wrong. You are an FBI agent not a cop and you are exemplary in the field. You are"
Booth shook his head. "That's not what I meant. It's just the idea that maybe if I was less confrontational." "What if we are looking in the completely wrong direction? Let's just play for a second. I know the odds are like 1 in ten billion maybe higher that all the coincidences are just coincidences but."
"But?"
"What if that is just what it is. Just an unbelievable coincidence."
"With out those coincidences what would you do with this case. Take them out of it and ask yourself what would your next step of been.
"I think the most obvious answer is Cooper Hoffman was a conman. He had to piss a lot of people off. I would want to know abut the people he pissed off. Some where in there you are going to find someone who wanted to kill him." Just than he looked at Brennan and got an idea. "Let's meet tonight for supper."
"Supper?"
"Yeah meet me at the Royal Diner at 7pm"
Booth hugged Brennan and kissed her quickly. "I got to go." He stopped at the directors office. It took a little work but he told them the science didn't support Xander as the killer. He was following his gut. He wasn't 100 percent sure if Buffy was in the clear but he figured a little honey might go a long ways. With in the hour Buffy and Xander were given back there clothes and the orange prison jumpers were taken away. Booth wasn't ready to release them completely but he realized easing up might benefit him a little.
So at 5pm Buffy and Xander were moved out of the cell and taken to a more comfortable room. It had a tv couch and a mini fridge. It was more like a cheap hotel room than a jail cell. The room was nice but when Buffy saw Xander she practically tackled him in a hug. "Oh God Xander I was sooo worried about you."
He just laughed and hugged her back. "It's okay Buff. You know you can't keep a Scooby down."
Buffy looked at him. "We got to get our hands on the hopper and get the hell out of here. They think you killed someone."
"It's going to be okay Buffy."
"No it isn't. God Xander the day you met me you should have went screaming running the other way."
Xander just laughed. "What?"
"Seriously why you have stuck around for as long as you have."
"I stick around cause that is what friends do Buffy."
"How can you not see it. You tried to get away from me. You had plans for this life but I couldn't see past my own needs. I had to be the clingy trouble following psycho she beast and asks you if I could come with."
"And I was glad you did Buffy. I would have been miserable living by myself."
"You'd still be home though. You wouldn't be getting accused of murder."
"Buffy I'm not going to let you take the hit on this one. Maybe the universe isn't cursing you. Maybe it's cursing us."
"Xander I was the one who pushed the button. I was the one who tracked down the mugger. That is just the start of the whole latest screw up that is the Buffy Summers contamination."
"Buffy we are going to be okay. Even if what you said was true that some how the universe has against you in this massive jinx or something you balance it all out in the end."
"How do you figure."
"Cause any trouble that comes my way you are the one to stand up to it. You are not only my best friend but your my hero Buffy."
Buffy just hugged him again. "I just want to go home."
"We will Buffy. I promise." Just than they were interrupted by a tap at the door Agent booth opened the door stepping in.
"Can I come in for a moment?"
Xander shrugged. "Could we stop you if we wanted too?"
Buffy swatted at Xander's shoulder "Be nice."
Booth stepped to the two of them. "I talked with the director and we felt you might be more comfortable in here."
Xander crossed his arms. "But we still aren't free?"
Buffy looked at Xander "It's probably better off Xander. I mean it's not like we have any where to stay while we are here."
Xander rolled his eyes. "Back in your life for 2 seconds and your already siding with Angel."
Booth put his hands up. "Excuse me my name is Booth. I was hoping this room would be considered an olive branch. Maybe we don't have to be enemies."
Buffy just fidgeted with her fingers. "So you think we didn't do this?"
Booth looked around the room. "I think that the story the two of you have put in front of me is like 1 in 10 billion but I guess 1 in 10 billion can happen even once."
Xander looked at Booth and forced a smile. "Well I guess I would just like to say thank you for everything."
Booth smiled and laughed. "God that must have unbearable for you to say."
Xander nodded. "You have no idea."
Booth walked past them opening the curtains so the sun would shine in. It felt weird seeing him in the sunlight. "You guys should know I looked up what the meal for supper tonight it. I think it's cream of meatloaf."
Buffy shook her head. "As yummy as that sounds I think I'll pass."
Booth smiled. "Hoping you two would say that. Come on I'll treat you two to supper."
Xander looked confused. "Come on? I thought we were prisoners."
Booth shrugged. "Actually you are being held for questioning. Not really the same thing as arrest. You are under my custody so I can say when and where you go."
Buffy felt there had to be some kind of catch. "So why supper? What is in it for you?"
Booth took a breath. "Me my wife are trying to figure out a few things."
Xander looked skeptical. "What kind of things?"
Booth opened the door for them. "That can wait till I have at least a good cheeseburger in me."
Buffy followed him out the door. "As long as they don't sell blue magic at the restaurant"
Booth had a puzzled look on his face. "What the hell is blue magic."
Xander shook his head pulling the door shut behind them. "Don't ask."
An hour later they arrived at the cozy little Royal Diner. The placed looked like a popular enough hang out. Brennan was already sitting at their usual booth when the three of them arrived. Booth carried a bag setting it on the table. As he approached his wife he kissed her hello. Brennan looked at Buffy than Xander. She eyed his face a little amazed.
"You are the exact match of the victim found in the grave. It's really quite remarkable."
Xander slid in to the booth. "Well I am the master of all things remarkable."
Booth slid next to his wife and picked up the menu. "I am starving so I say we eat."
Buffy looked at the menu. "Well you took our wallets and money. Not that there was a lot in there."
Booth shook his head. "Consider this a gift of the FBI."
Xander took a menu reading. "Well in that case I'll take the biggest most exspensive item there is."
Buffy smiled looking at the menu. "That is Xander's way of saying thank you."
As they ate their food they made small talk. As Angel finished his food he pushed the plate away. "I had ulterior motives for inviting you out tonight."
Xander lifted the glass of cold beer taking a sip. "So what are these motives."
Brennan looked at both of them. "You are an anomaly. We have ran your fingerprints and we ran the finger prints of the victim and some how you both have the same fingerprints."
There was a tense silence at the table and Booth looked back and fourth at both of them. "We both know that is physically impossible Yet here it is."
Buffy didn't want to say anything. She sighed. "What are you asking us?"
Brennan barely let her get her words out. "How? What are you?" She looked at Xander. "Cloning wouldn't explain."
Xander laughed a little. "I'm not a clone." He leaned back against the booth. "The truth is you don't want the truth. You wouldn't believe us if we told you."
Booth locked eyes with him. "Why don't you let me decide what we do or don't believe."
Buffy shook her head. "Xander is right. You are better off not asking some questions."
With that Booth brought the bag out and brought the hopper in to view. "Does this have anything to do with it."
Xander put his hand out to reach for it but Angel pulled back. "That belongs to us."
Brennan supporting her husband looked at them. "It's evidence in an on going FBI investigation."
Booth took out the evidence bag and held it in his hand he ran his thumb over the big button. "What would happen if I push this."
Xander sighed afraid. "STOP." He knew Booth had him. "Okay fine. You want the truth."
Buffy put her hand on Xander's shoulder. "Xander are you sure we should tell them?"
Xander shook his head. "No I'm not. We don't have a choice though." He looked down and took a deep breath. "You are going to call me a liar. You re going to say I'm crazy. Hell I'm here and I don't believe it."
Brennan looked at him. "I have an open mind to all things."
Xander looked at Booth. "This has nothing to do with your investigation. I tell you this it's 100 percent off the record."
Booth nodded, "Just four friends discussing over dinner. That is all this is."
Buffy cleared her throat. "I'm not sure how long it's been. I think some where between a week and a week and a half. Xander and I were on our way to our best friends birthday party."
Xander smiled thinking of Willow. "It had been almost 3 weeks since we seen her. I know that may not seem like a lot but we are pretty close."
Buffy realized they were wandering off subject. "That thing you have in your hand we call it the hopper. So far it's proven to be one of the bigger regrets of my life."
Booth examined it carefully "What kind of regret?"
Xander smirked. "We pushed the wrong button and bam we are taken to differently different world or dimension or reality. What ever you want to call it."
Buffy sighed and ran a finger through her hair. "You were right to assume we weren't from here. In our world you are a vampire. I am the vampire slayer and Xander is my side kick."
Brennan looked at both of them skeptically. "The idea of Booth being a vampire isn't likely. The metaphysical biology alone is impossible."
Xander nodded in agreement. "You are right. In this world it is impossible. In the reality we live in it is a part of life."
Booth looked at both of them. "See this is where you two piss me off a little. My wife is smarter than me. She's definitely smarter than you two and the fact that you expect us to believe in alternate realities is just dumb. Tell them all the scientific reasons what they just said to us is impossible." Booth smiled as if he had the ultimate weapon ready to unload.
Brennan looked to her husband. "I can't."
Booth looked at her shocked. "You are telling me that you believe they are from another dimension."
Brennan laughed at the notion. "Of course not. What you asked me though was to dispute that there are alternate dimensions and realities out there. Multiple credible scientist not only speculate that there are other dimensions, time lines or world but feel the worlds out there could be limitless. Stephen Hawkings ,Brian Green and Max Tegmark all believe in alternate realities just to name a few"
Buffy looked worried. "Endless amount of dimensions?"
Booth interrupted before she could answer. "Okay fine but do you believe those two are really capable of inventing a device to cross in to realities."
Brennan laughed at the concept. "Of course not."
Xander put his hands up in defense. "We never said we created the thing. We found it. Lord knows we wish we hadn't. All we want is to go home."
Booth held the hopper up. "And this will send you there?"
Buffy sighed. "Hopefully some day. Lately I'm not sure."
Xander took her hand "Buffy I promise you we are getting home."
Brennan looked at them. "As a scientist I promised you I would keep an open mind but what you are asking is too far out of reason. It's" Just than they were interrupted as the bell rang as Hodgens and Sweets came running in through the front of the Royal Diner.
Hodgens called out to them. "Guys" Hodgens froze in his tracks seeing Xander up close for the first time. "Whoa you guys weren't kidding he's like an exact replicant." He took his index finger poking Xander's shoulder as if he was checking to see if he was real.
Xander pushed his finger away. "Excuse me. Please don't touch."
Sweets looked at Booth. "We think we have a lead on the Cooper Hoffman murder."
Booth slid out and stood up. "What do you got."
Hodgens held up the beaker of aphids once again. "I cross referenced this particular species of bugs and looked for organic farmers in the area."
Sweets nodded cutting him off. "Once we did that we cross referenced any potential victims Cooper Hoffman might have taken advantage of."
Hodgens opened a folder. "Sydney Kinney. Has an organic vegetable plantation. At least she does for another 2 weeks."
Booth took the file examining it. "What happens in two weeks?"
Sweets flipped the next page. "The bank takes possession back. Seems Hoffman convinced the land owner to mortgage her farm in some form of ponzi scheme and pretty much she lost everything."
Booth looked a little surprised. "Where is she?"
Hodgens picked up the lead this time. "Dead. After the disgrace and feeling foolish she took her life 2 months ago."
Brennan interrupted this time. "But that body was killed no more than 10 days ago."
Sweets nodded not missing a beat. "Sidney had a daughter. That farm was to be her legacy. It was in the Kinney name for generations."
Hodgins interrupting again. "She is a left handed just like you said the killer would be and five foot five with dark brown."
Booth looked at Sweets. "We should bring her in."
Sweets smiled a happy smile of approval. "She is being taken to FBI headquarters as we speak."
Booth stood up quickly throwing a enough money on the table for a good tip and the food. "Come on we have to get back to the headquarters."
Xander picked up the hopper that Booth left of the table along with the bag that had there wallet id and other personal effects. Booth quickly grabbed the hopper from him. "Oh no. Not just yet."
Xander sighed and looked at Buffy. "So close."
Buffy and Xander rode in the back seat of the car with Sealy and Brennan up front. As they walked in to the building Booth looked at the two of them. "I'm just going to take you guys to wait for just a little longer if this is the person who killed Hoffman we will send you on your way."
Xander followed in behind him. "And we can have ALL of our stuff back."
Booth sighed. "Of course."
As they turned the hallway and to the room 2 local police officers were leading Andrea Kinney to the interrogation room. Xander almost fell over backwards when he saw her face. Everything about this girl said Buffy Summers. She had her face and her body and could have been yet another clone. Even Booth was taken back seeing her for the first time. Buffy stood next to him just as stunned.
Xander whispered to her. "I bet you that isn't the Buffy Bot."
Booth just threw his hands up sick of dopplegangers. "Come on already."
It took her a second but Andrea spotted Xander. She looked at him with absolute disgust and rage. She kicked the knee of the cop that was holding her and ran at him with everything she had. The girl was strong and fast. As she charged Xander she kicked him in the stomach doubling him over and than kicked him in the balls. "You son of a bitch. I will kill you a 100 more times if that is what it takes."
Brennan looked at Xander laying on the floor. "She seems to have a lot of hostility towards him."
Xander laid on the ground in the fetal position holding his balls. He heard the obvious statement and looked at Brennan "You think?" Buffy angry punched her in the face with everything she had flooring her. Xander groaned trying to feel better. "I really don't think I like alternate dimension you."
Booth picked up Andrea holding her hands behind her back. "That's not him. Trust me a lot of people make that mistake. You are under arrest for the murder of Cooper Hoffman."
She yelled angry. "He killed my mother. He stole my birthright. He's the criminal arrest him."
Buffy offered her hand to Xander pulling him up and off the ground. "You okay?"
Xander sucked in a slow deep breath. "I will be. In like 2 years." She looked at Andrea who was so angry and so bitter. "I get that you are mad and I'm sorry for everything you lost but I swear to you I didn't do it."
Andrea looked at him angry and spit at him. "Like I would believe a word you would say."
Booth had heard enough he looked to his wife. "Can you take these two to my office I'm going to deal with her." He turned his attention to Andrea. "You have the right to remain silent." He grabbed for his hand cuffs and as she did so she quickly pulled a hand free and punched him flooring him now. Free now she ran with everything she had. She charged through the double doors and ran up to a stair well.
Booth was angry and embarrassed he let someone get the drop on him. Andrea was just as fast as Buffy. Xander wondered if that was part farm girl or maybe just all Buffy's were 100 percent bad ass. With no words Booth took off following and the chase was on. It wasn't there fight but Xander and Buffy followed anyways. The stair well went up and led to other floors with other hallways and other rooms. As fast as Andrea was it quickly became a battle of who was better at hide and seek.
All of them went in different directions. Brennan followed Xander and scolded him. "You aren't an FBI agent and you shouldn't be getting involved."
Xander rolled his eyes. She couldn't yell at Buffy cause she was already gone. He just looked at her "Fine come with me than."
She looked at Xander reluctantly. "Fine but you should know I am more than capable of defending myself if you should try anything."
Xander just smirked. "I'll keep that in mind." Through nothing more than instinct Xander followed the stair well all the way to the access panel on the FBI roof. As he and Brennan climbed through the panel they did their best to walk quietly. If she was up there he didn't want to let her know they were following turned walking around the air duct when Xander saw had run to the edge of the roof and found it to be a dead end. The only way off the roof would be back the way she came. She started running when she spotted Xander and Brennan.
She knew she was trapped. Brennan turned and ran back to the access panel to get Booth up to apprehend her. Andrea looked at Xander angry. "This is all your fault."
Xander put his hands up trying to show her he meant no harm. "That guy wasn't me. If I had my way I would say that Hoffman guy got what he deserved."
Angry she looked at him. "You think I believe a word you say. You conned my mom and now you are trying to con me. She killed herself because she was so ashamed. She felt like she let me down. She died because of you."
"How is that possible. You put him in the ground. I wish he had never been uncovered. I wish" He shook his head. "If I were in your place and someone hurt the people I love the way he hurt you. I would have done the same thing."
She looked at Xander and saw a sympathy in his eyes Cooper Hoffman never had. In his eyes she saw understanding. She shook her head looking down and stepped back towards the edge. "It doesn't matter now. Not anymore? They are going to kill me for what I did or at least lock me up for the rest of my life." She felt the smooth cold cement block behind her and pulled back towards the edge. "And I'd rather die than spend my life locked up."
Xander stepped to her. "Please don't"
"What do you care? You don't know me."
Xander stepped to her. "Maybe I don't know you but that doesn't mean I don't care."
"You take another step and I swear I'll jump."
Xander froze afraid to move. "You can't stop fighting. Tell the world your story. You tell them how that sack of shit drove you to the option you saw possible. The jury will believe you. Agent Booth will believe you. He's a good man."
"I KILLED a man.. Good or not he can't make that go away."
"I know you can't stop fighting. You can't give up. I"m begging you with everything I have in me. Please come down from that ledge.I give you my word. If you come down I will do all I can to help you. I promise."
Andrea turned around looking at the ground. She was so high up and the lights shining from the the building and parking lot made things spin. "I just need to think."
The loud bang of the access panel could be heard crashing on the floor as Booth came up the ladder and on to the roof. The noise sent Andrea off balance. She fell backwards and almost in slow motion. Xander ran with everything he had and reached for her as she fell back. HIs hand grabbed her wrist holding her dangling over the edge of the building. Xander gripped with everything he had almost getting pulled over himself. Andrea looked up at Xander as he held her life in his hands. She could see this was not the man who had swindled her family. She cried. "Just let go."
Xander shook his head. "Never."
Booth had doubled timed it running to Xander and leaned over the building and pulled her up and over the side back to safety. Booth grabbed her angry . "Like I said you are under arrest." Xander rubbed his now sore shouldered. He looked at him. "You okay?"
"Yeah I"m fine. Just take it easy on her? She has been through a lot."
Brennan and Buffy arrived on the roof just in time to see Andrea being taken away by Booth. Andrea looked like a defeated animal who had lost all of fight. Brennan had taken Xander and Buffy to Booth's office to wait on him. Buffy was busy looking over the various photos and plaques that decorated the wall. "It's strange how different everything is. How different it can be."
"You still in love with him?"
She whipped around confused. "Where the hell did that come from?"
"Well you love him in our world so I'm not sure how you feel about him here."
"First off what I felt for Angel was long ago. I mean not that it matters but this Booth guy isn't Angel. I mean he might look like him but come on. He is completely different in every." She smirked and pulled out the rolling chair behind Booth's desk. She smirked at him. "Is that jealousy I hear in your voice."
"Why does it have to be jealousy. Can I just genuinely dislike the guy."
She put her feet up on Booth's desk. "There is something that was bothering me."
"What?"
"After that girl kicked you in your junk."
"Thank you for reminding me."
"She spit on you and yelled at you. She called you a murderer."
"Is there a question coming?"
"I would think that after all of that you would be pissed and the last person to rush to her aid."
"Buffy you can't blame her for the situation. I mean she lost everything because the me in this world is a douche bag. He screwed her over completely. Put yourself in her place. What if someone had hurt Dawn so bad that it drove her to kill herself. What would you do?"
Buffy wanted to object but she knew she was right. "Fine I guess I can see that."
"Than it is the whole I'm not comfortable watching you die thing."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "It wasn't me. It just looked like me."
Xander stood up and turned around not looking at her. "Buffy I've been there to many times. I know it might not have been you but I don't even want to see the."
Buffy stood up and turned around to face Xander. "Xander?"
"It brought back the whole tower and Glory, or Warren and the gun or the Master and the cave. Buffy the worst moments of my life have been watching you die. Even if it wasn't you I don't want to anything that even looks like you dying."
"You never told me you felt that way."
He looked down at his feet. "What did you think Buffy? Watching you die was a walk in the park?"
"I'm sorry." She hugged him. "You are the part of this whole crazy universe hopping thing that makes any of it bearable."
Xander looked at her locking eyes and hugged her back. "I have to admit if I could pick anyone to be stuck with."
"Xander I want you to know some times I think about you and I wonder if." Booth opened the door to the office interrupting them.
"Hey this is my office show some restraint." Buffy quickly stepped back.
Xander looked annoyed. "So are we still under arrest?"
Booth shook his head. "I just talked to my director and you are free to go."
Xander stuck his hand out. "With all of our possessions that you confiscated from us?"
Booth reached in to his jacket pocket and took out the hopper. He handed it to Xander. "You really don't expect me to believe that you are just going to push a button and you are going to magically disappear."
Xander quickly turned on the hopper and read the screen. He sighed relieved seeing that they could leave any time they want. "Of course not that would just be silly."
Booth looked at Xander than at Buffy. "Seriously where ever you two go just be careful. The whole arrest thing aside you both seem like nice people and I'd hate to have to arrest you and detain you." He looked at Buffy. "Well I'd hate to detain you."
Xander smiled. "Oh Agent Booth how I will miss this."
Buffy pulled Xander out the door. "I'm taking him with me before he says something to get arrested again."
As they walked out the office Booth's phone rang out with a text message. It turned out everyone had went to local bar for a drink. After a long day a cold drink was just what he needed to end the day. Hodgins, Angela, Sweets, Cammile and Brennan. Brennanhad told her friends co workers. Brennan had shared the story Buffy and Xander had told them over dinner.
Hodgens was drinking a cold beer and looked at Brennan. "You know if I known they were from another dimension I would have liked to ask them a few things about there world?"
His wife Angel slinked her arm around him. "Oh come on. You can't tell me you really believe that stuff about alternate dimensions."
Hodgens lifted his bottle drinking deeply. "Oh I absolutely believe it. A world where the CIA didn't really kill Kennedy or we didn't fake the moon landing. I mean come on it is exciting to think about."
"Yeah well in this world or any other as long as I have you and Michael I would find a way to make do." She kissed her husband. "Speaking of which I promised him we would pick him up some ice cream before we go home so." Cammile was sipping her wine talking with Sweets.
"You met the guy Sweets so you tell me. This whole alternate dimension theory. I mean did they seem crazy?"
Sweets shook his head. "Just because you believe something crazy doesn't make you crazy. I mean would you call someone who goes to church on Sunday and believes that beyond this world there is another. Are they crazy?"
Brennan over hearing the conversation spoke up before Cammile could finish. "Many consider organized religion to be a form of widely accepted insanity. That some could argue does more damage than those we deem insane."
Cammile closed her eyes and laughed "And with that I am reminded I need more to drink."
Booth entered the bar stepping behind his wife and kissed her neck. "Surprise." She spun around in his arms.
"You are done for the day I am hoping."
"My only concern for the next 12 hours is Christine and you."
"What's going to happen to Ms Kinney?"
"Most likely she will spend the rest of her days in prison."
"You seem unhappy."
"What she did was wrong but I get it. She lost everything cause of."
Hodgens yelled getting attention "Hey look at the television."
Booth and Brennan quickly turned there attention to the flat screen wondering what was so damn important. That is when he recognized Xander Harris on the screen. Gone was the eye patch and it's place was a simple pair of sunglasses.
The reporter held the mic to Xander. "Sir you are claiming that the FBI are holding a woman for murder but not just any murder. Your murder."
Xander smiled looking at the camera. "Sorry Agent Booth. Yes my name is Cooper Hoffman and they are wrongly convicting an Andrea Kinney. They said she killed me but as you can see I look pretty good for a dead man."
The reporter looked on holding the mic to his face. "Aren't you worried about the implications of what might happen to you once the FBI catches up to you."
Xander just smiled his usual smile. "Yes. That's why as soon as I'm done here I'm going on the run but I can not let someone go to prison for something they didn't do. Which is why I've left you with all the proof of my identity." Xander gave her an envelope. "Earlier on camera I gave you my finger prints along with a blood sample as indisputable proof I am who I say I am."
Booth looked at the screen cursing. "Son of a bitch."
Brennan shook her head. "He doesn't really think that will work does he?"
Booth sighed "How can we explain someone with the same fingerprints and DNA. How do we explain arresting someone for killing a person who later appears on camera."
"But we still have the bones from Cooper Hoffman."
"It's called reasonable doubt and he just threw a whole lot of it out there God I hate that guy"
Buffy was waiting in a back ally as Xander quickly snuck away from the news crew. She had the hopper in hand. "I'm not sure you did the right thing Xander."
"I'm not sure I did either but sometimes you gotta say what the hell."
"Weren't you the guy talking about butterflies and not causing waves in the world we visit."
"Yeah well my doppleganger was a real piece of crap so I figured maybe it was time I put some things in balance. This face can do something good in the world for once."
"That the only reason."
"Well it is kind of fun making the whole headache for Booth."Just than Xander heard a siren. "My guess is that's the FBI or police looking for Cooper Hoffman. I say it would be best if we aren't here when they arrive."
Buffy took out the hopper. "Agreed." With that she took Xander's hand pushed the button on the hopper and they both disappeared leaving the ally empty once again.
As Xander opened his eyes the dark night was replaced with a bright blue sky. Where ever it was he felt cold. He yawned and opened his eyes and suddenly realized why he was feeling so cold. Gone was the t-shirt and jeans he was wearing. In it's place was a glittery bedazzled red banana hammock and a single bow tie around his neck. Suddenly feeling very exposed Xander covered up using his hands.
Buffy still unaware of where they were "So where do you think we" She turned looking at Xander. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WEARING?"
Xander looked at Buffy who was wearing a simple sundress. "This is soooooo not fair."
